Traditional spot where
the Mother of God stood at
Our Lord's Holy Ascension in
Jerusalem

Editors Notes: Description of the photograph: This rock marks the traditional spot where the Mother of God the Theotokos stood watching the Holy Ascension of Lord, and is located on the S.E. corner of the Church of the Mount of Olives Ascension Russian Orthodox Convent, which is located at the top of the hill overlooking Jerusalem.

The Holy Scriptures indicates to us as Our Lord Ascended to heaven, "And a cloud received Him", …that is the Lord of heaven. It was as if a royal chariot came to Our Lord, and ascended Him to heaven on a white cloud. Then two witnesses came to be with Our Lord within this cloud: "in the mouth of two witnesses shall every word be established " (Deut. 17:6). Keeping in mind humbly Holy Angels appeared frequently, and this happened at Our Lord's Holy Resurrection, even at Our Lord's Holy Nativity (St. Matthew 1:20), and at the Annunciation to Mary (St. Luke 1:30), and this also shall happen at the Second Coming, as Holy Angels shall appear in the announcement of the coming of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Feast of Our Lord's Holy Ascension this year is on May 24th, and this particular major feast day is always celebrated and commemorated forty days after Our Lord's Holy Glorious Resurrection, and held on a Thursday, since this is the day it happen.

So powerful and so Holy is the Lord Our God that He lifts Himself up to heaven, as to never leave us all alone, as He never abandons us, but assures us that a great comfort will be sent to us all, and this great comfort is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit that guides us all takes place on Holy Pentecost, which is always commemorated fifty days after our Lord's Holy Resurrection, and in the Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates this Holy Feast of Holy Pentecost this year is on June 3rd.

Before Our Lord's Ascension He appeared to those near Jerusalem, and well indicated these words: "Peace be to you" (St. Luke 24:36)…read the whole chapter of St. Luke 24. Constantly we ourselves seek the same peace beneath the cloud of darkness, as this darkness is taken away after Our Lord Ascended into heaven. It is no longer dark beneath the clouds, or is it getting dark once again? Our spiritual lives must be that we keep ourselves in the Peace of Christ Our Lord, and to seek out our salvation constantly, and that is on a daily basis. When we seek to keep the light of Christ in our lives we turn darkness into a brighter light, and that light is full of the love of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ…such a great love that we at times overlook the love of Our Lord God, as we get so busy with the world around us, we forget at times to look up to heavens and notice the love of Our God, and what He has created, and has given to us all!

Sadly enough we even question who created this world, and everything in it: God out of love for us all created both the heavens and the earth! Light and darkness was created, and we must learn spiritually how to live in that light and when darkness happens. We all know that we have as of late found the world itself in times of darkness however, we can overcome this darkness with the joy of Christ in our every day lives, and in knowing we are guided with the comfort of the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit that truly guides the Church and it's faithful! The same Holy Spirit that ordains priest! The same Holy Spirit that guided the Ecumenical Councils, and all the sessions of the bishops, and every time we call upon the Holy Spirit comes to comfort us, and guides us! Comforts with love and great spiritual guidance of Our Lord God!

Let us all spiritually realize that beneath the cloud of darkness love can exist, and it does when we love our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, and one another.

May the loving peace of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ be with you always! Remember well Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ shall be with us always -even until the end of the world with His love!

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers,
Lord Jesus Christ Our God,
have mercy upon us and save us! Amen!

Humbly In Christ Our Lord,
+Rev. Presbyter Demetrios Serfes
Who prays for you and for you!
May 2001